Virat Kohli Responds After Being Targeted By Jofra Archer

England allrounder Jofra Archer has set the tone for a good duel by saying that he would love to dismiss India skipper Virat Kohli in the upcoming World Cup. Archer was a surprise inclusion in World Cup’s squad at the last minute. While there is no undermining Archer’s undeniable talent, not many were seeing England going for the inexperienced allrounder.

Archer had failed to make it to England’s preliminary squad. However, England later dropped David Willey to make room for the highly-rated Barbados-born allrounder. And as soon as he made it to the squad, he set his sight on the wicket of Virat Kohli, arguably the most prized scalp in world cricket at the moment.

Also Read: I Would Like To Get Virat Kohli Out: Jofra Archer After Making It To England’s World Cup Squad

“I’d quite like to get Virat Kohli out because I wasn’t able to in the IPL,” Archer had told Sky Sports.

Well, the Indian skipper has now responded to Archer’s comment, saying that it was a “big compliment” to be a target wicket.

“That’s news to me, news to Morgs (England skipper Eoin Morgan) as well. I don’t really focus on these things,” Kohli said at the captains’ press conference before adding: “I take a lot of pride in performing well for the team and making a big impact on each game I play, so if Jofra said that it’s a big compliment as he himself is a world-class bowler.”

Kohli further pointed out Archer’s impressive performances in the Indian Premier League before saying that the allrounder would be England’s X-factor in the World Cup.

“And the way he has come through in the IPL over the last couple of years, I have seen him and he’s played all round the world and done well so there’s a good reason why he’s been fast-tracked into playing for England in a tournament like the World Cup.

“I think he’s going to be the X-factor because he has all the skill-sets and he’s very different from anyone else,” he said.

India and England, meanwhile, will lock horns in a blockbuster World Cup clash on June 30 at Edgbaston. The tournament will start on May 30 with England taking on South Africa in the opener. India, on the other hand, will kickstart their campaign on June 5 against South Africa.